I was watching an episode of My Adventures of Superman recently. It’s a fun cartoon on Cartoon Network which takes a look at the Superman and Lois Lane mythos a little differently; if you like the Man of Steel, I recommend trying it! Anyway, Clark Kent was just developing his super-hearing one episode, and every sound that was happening in Metropolis was assaulting his ears. He had a hard time focusing on anything.
Plus, he’s Superman! So he wanted to go help all the people he knew needed his aid. And there were so many people! Even with super speed, he had a hard time helping everyone, and some guilt kicked in. Eventually, he had to learn to focus his hearing so he could shut things out. Otherwise, he would never be able to slow down since there would always be someone who needed Superman for something.
Clark had to learn to strike a work/life balance. He wanted to be Clark Kent and work as a reporter for The Daily Planet and date Lois Lane and hang out with Jimmy Olson. But he also knew that his power as Superman was meant to be used to help others. What to do?
Do you ever feel like Superman? You’re being pulled in multiple directions and feel like you can’t get everything done you’re being asked to do? This might all be at work, or it could be a combination of work and some groups you’re part of. Then throw in your family, and you might feel like Clark did in that episode.
Finding a good work/life balance can be difficult. Many people put their all into their jobs to try and do their very best. Often, that means working more than the eight hours a day you might be expected to do. For example, those who work on a salary, including teachers like me, have work hours but find many times where you have to work longer to get the job done. That’s what you need to do - get the job done.
Even hourly workers will sometimes be asked to work overtime because there are things that need to be accomplished. When I worked at a grocery store stocking shelves, we had to stay until we had finished unloading the truck, placed everything on the shelves, and faced the aisles so they looked good. Many times that took longer than we were scheduled.
So what does that leave? Less time to be at home. Less time to see your significant other and your kids. Less time to hang out with friends. How can we balance that?
It’s a hard question. I found myself bathed in relief recently when another teacher volunteered to take on a union position for which I had been nominated. I would have done it, but that would have been eight more evenings I wouldn’t have been home, usually the Wednesday nights that are for sure my free night each week. That’s important for what might seem a small reason. It’s the night Survivor airs, one of the shows Michelle and I enjoy watching together, and one of the few things we like to watch as it airs instead of a recording.
I spend a lot of evenings at sporting events, either officiating or announcing or both. I pondered whether this is work or not. I mean, I get paid to do these things, but it’s not my regular pay-the-bills job. I love sports, so sometimes these times feel like a life event, not a work one. Mark Twain wrote something along the lines of if you don’t consider it work, it really isn’t.
But, you might say, that takes away from time with my wife. She enjoys some alone time, too. And if I’m not home, she can get that. Sometimes, I tend to talk a lot (shocker!). I’m guessing it’s relaxing if it’s just Michelle and the cat curled up on the couch.
Still, I think I can be better with my balance. Certain times of the year get hectic. The first week of school, I had volleyball one night, an appointment the next day after school, two meetings the following day, and football announcing on Saturday. Without the kids around, it’s time for the two of us to find other things to do on weekends, so those days don’t always look just like the evenings we’re at home. That’s nice sometimes without having to worry about running somewhere else on Saturday or Sunday, but that’s another area of balance.
Are you like Superman? Do you find it hard to say no when someone asks for help? We’re in the same boat, but maybe we can all find that time to go on a date with someone we care about or hang out with a friend instead of always rushing off to put out the latest fire or rescue another cat from a tree.
Word of the Week: This week’s word is penultimatum, which means a demand before an ultimatum, as in, “Superman found it odd that Lex Luthor issued a penultimatum, which he knew wasn’t the final threat the villain would make.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!